Easy way to print Perl array? (with a little formatting) - perl

Question

Is there an easy way to print out a Perl array with commas in between each element?
Writing a for loop to do it is pretty easy but not quite elegant....if that makes sense.

Answer 1

Just use join():
# assuming #array is your array:
print join(", ", #array);

Answer 2

You can use Data::Dump:
use Data::Dump qw(dump);
my #a = (1, [2, 3], {4 => 5});
dump(#a);
Produces:
"(1, [2, 3], { 4 => 5 })"

Answer 3

If you're coding for the kind of clarity that would be understood by someone who is just starting out with Perl, the traditional this construct says what it means, with a high degree of clarity and legibility:
$string = join ', ', #array;
print "$string\n";
This construct is documented in perldoc -fjoin.
However, I've always liked how simple $, makes it. The special variable $" is for interpolation, and the special variable $, is for lists. Combine either one with dynamic scope-constraining 'local' to avoid having ripple effects throughout the script:
use 5.012_002;
use strict;
use warnings;
my #array = qw/ 1 2 3 4 5 /;
{
local $" = ', ';
print "#array\n"; # Interpolation.
}
OR with $,:
use feature q(say);
use strict;
use warnings;
my #array = qw/ 1 2 3 4 5 /;
{
local $, = ', ';
say #array; # List
}
The special variables $, and $" are documented in perlvar. The local keyword, and how it can be used to constrain the effects of altering a global punctuation variable's value is probably best described in perlsub.
Enjoy!

Answer 4

Also, you may want to try Data::Dumper. Example:
use Data::Dumper;
# simple procedural interface
print Dumper($foo, $bar);

Answer 5

For inspection/debugging check the Data::Printer module. It is meant to do one thing and one thing only:
display Perl variables and objects on screen, properly formatted (to
be inspected by a human)
Example usage:
use Data::Printer;
p #array; # no need to pass references
The code above might output something like this (with colors!):
[
[0] "a",
[1] "b",
[2] undef,
[3] "c",
]

Answer 6

You can simply print it.
#a = qw(abc def hij);
print "#a";
You will got:
abc def hij

Answer 7

# better than Dumper --you're ready for the WWW....
use JSON::XS;
print encode_json \#some_array

Answer 8

Using Data::Dumper :
use strict;
use Data::Dumper;
my $GRANTstr = 'SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, LOCK TABLES, EXECUTE, TRIGGER';
$GRANTstr =~ s/, /,/g;
my #GRANTs = split /,/ , $GRANTstr;
print Dumper(#GRANTs) . "===\n\n";
print Dumper(\#GRANTs) . "===\n\n";
print Data::Dumper->Dump([\#GRANTs], [qw(GRANTs)]);
Generates three different output styles:
$VAR1 = 'SELECT';
$VAR2 = 'INSERT';
$VAR3 = 'UPDATE';
$VAR4 = 'DELETE';
$VAR5 = 'LOCK TABLES';
$VAR6 = 'EXECUTE';
$VAR7 = 'TRIGGER';
===
$VAR1 = [
'SELECT',
'INSERT',
'UPDATE',
'DELETE',
'LOCK TABLES',
'EXECUTE',
'TRIGGER'
];
===
$GRANTs = [
'SELECT',
'INSERT',
'UPDATE',
'DELETE',
'LOCK TABLES',
'EXECUTE',
'TRIGGER'
];

Answer 9

This might not be what you're looking for, but here's something I did for an assignment:
$" = ", ";
print "#ArrayName\n";

Answer 10

Map can also be used, but sometimes hard to read when you have lots of things going on.
map{ print "element $_\n" } #array;

Answer 11

I've not tried to run below, though. I think this's a tricky way.
map{print $_;} #array;